Dental splint.



W. S. KELLY.

DENTAL SPLINT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8. 1914.

1, 146,264. Patented July 13, 1915.

Inllllllllllllllllllllllfllllllllllllllllllll Zfizinmmp WILL S. KELLY, 0F WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DENTAL SPLINT.

Application filed July 8, 1914. Serial No. 849,751.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILL S. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne' county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Splints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises two U-shaped trays adapted to receive the upper and, lower jaws, the trays having marginal flanges to confine the cement or compound.

which holds the jaws in position, and the two trays being connected by one or more pillars of malleable or bendable material so that the angle of the trays may be adjusted to thenatural angle of the jaws of the patient when in position-for setting a fracture.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a dental splint constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the same; Fig. 3 isa side view showing the two members of the splint slightly separated at the rear; Fig. a is a section on the line 1-l of Fig. 1 showing the two members of the splint arranged at a less acute angle than in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1; and Fig.- 6 is a similar section illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawing, A, B, indicate the upper and lower members of the splint. These members are substantially identical in shape and construction. Each member is generally U-shaped and provided with an inner marginal flange 10 and an outer marginal flange 11. The channel formed by the U-shaped plate 12 and its marginal flanges 10, 11 is preferably narrow at the middle where it receives the front teeth of the patient and wider at the rear open ends where it receives the double teeth. The flanges are sufliciently high to confine the cement or other material in which a fractured jaw is set, but low enough so that they do not interfere with closing the jaws or annoy the patient by cutting into the gums.

The U-shaped members A, B, are arranged back to back, to register with each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and they are connected by one or more pillars 18 which may be inte ral with the members A, B, as shown in Fig. 5, or suitably con- Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented s, 191.5.

nected therewith, as shownin Fig. 6. The U-shaped members of the splint may be constructed of metal, hard rubber or other ma. terial of a sanitary nature. The connecting pillars, which are preferably arranged near the front of the device, are preferably made I of malleable or pliable metal which can be bent to change the angularity of the mem-.

bers A, B, and which will hold the members in any desired relation. When the jawv members A, B, are of metal the pillars. may be of the same metal, if suitable, orthey may be of a softer metal and integral with or attached to the jaw members. I i

In using my improved dental splint the device is placed in the mouth of the patient and the jawscarefully closed thereon until. the teeth fit against the plates 12. In fit-l ting the splint it is preferable to separate the rear endsslightly and thenpermit the bite of the patient to adjust them to the natural angle of the jaws when the teeth are pressed against the upper and lower plates 12.

WVhen the splint has been adjusted as described, it is removed and the channels are filled with cement or a suitable compound or composition. The splint is then replaced in the mouth of the patient and the jaws are brought together and pressed into the compound until the teeth touch the plates 12- During this operation care must be taken to properly adjust the fractured portions of the jaw or jaws. When the cementing material has set or hardened it will adhere to the splint and tothe teeth and the jaws will be held indefinitely in proper position Without the use ofa bandage. In case of a jaw unprovided with teeth a bandage must be used.

When the splint is in position it need not be disturbed until the fractured bones have Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dental splint of unitary construction having two U-shaped members adapted to receive the upper and lower jaws, and one or more pillars connecting said members and holding them in proper relative position.

2. A dental splint of unitary construction having two U-shaped members adapted to receive the upper and lower j aws, and one or more pillars connecting said members and holding them in proper relative position and being sufficiently soft to permit of relative adjustment of the members and sufficiently stiff to hold them in adjusted position.

3. A dental splint comprising two U- shaped plates each having inner and outer marginal flanges, and a pillar connecting the plates and rigidly secured thereto.

4. A dental splint of unitary construction having two U-shaped plates each having inner and outer marginal flanges, and one or more pillars connecting the plates and being sufiiciently soft to permit of relative adjustment of the plates and sufficiently stiff to hold them in adjusted position.

5. A dental splint comprising two U- shaped metal plates, and an integral bendable pillar connecting said plates.

6. A dental splint of unitary construction having two U-shaped flanged plates separated in front sufliciently to permit of feeding between the plates, and two symmetrically arranged pillars connecting said plates at the forward part thereof.

7. A dental splint comprising two U- shaped flanged plates separated in front sufficient y to permit of feeding between the plates, and two metal pillars connecting said plates at the forward parts thereof, said pillars being bendable to permit of relative adjustment of the plates.

8. A dental splint comprising two U- shaped members arranged one above the other in angular relation and with their extremities spaced apart, and one or more pillars connecting said members and bendable to permit the space between said ends to be changed or to permit one member to he bodily displaced relatively to the other.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILL S. KELLY.

-Witnesses HENRY BENNETT, H. H. SWAINBANK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

